You have been assigned a role and you will explore the events of the Rape of Nanking through the eyes of that individual. The purpose of this assignment is to get a clear and deep understanding of Japanese conduct during World War II. You will be able to collaborate with others in the class to make a series of journals, letters, and other forms of media. Please keep your ideas historically accurate and think critically throughout this project.
Rules of the Ant Farm (READ THIS):
No murdering other students' characters--you CAN murder other students' characters' relations.
IF you kill another student's character's family member, you MUST notify them on the discussion page of their character's wiki.
You have to suffer the consequences of your actions in all following diaries. If you kill somebody in diary 1, it can't disappear in diary 2. Keep the story going.
There should be a realistic, convincing reason for all actions you take. Take risks and show the tensions and madness of this period, yes; but be careful--don't be silly; be convincing.
You can always converse and interact with more people than assigned, from any class, including your own (common sense: they're your neighbors).
If you read something that bothers you, you privately inform the teacher. Your privacy will be protected.
Grading Criteria:
Credibility / Realism: Are your character's actions believable to the reader? Do we understand the reasons he/she does what she does?
Historical Accuracy: Do you include convincing and accurate historical details in your "historical fiction"
Creativity: Are your character, your events, and your writing imaginative, full of images, drama?
Collaboration: Are you giving good feedback--based on the feedback questions--to your assigned peer review partners
Task: Using your background knowledge from Reading 1 (Chapters 1-2 of Rape of Nanking) create your character. Process: Copy the prompts below. Paste them to your own diary's wiki page. Then, use the prompts to help yourself imagine and create a character that is a) historically accurate, and b) interesting to you and us. Brainstorm (meaning write) your ideas for these prompts on your own wiki diary page.
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Occupation:
Social Class:
Financial situation:
Appearance:
Location (map): Nanking
Habitual locations:
Daily routine:
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits:
Past/individual-family history:
Family:
Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them):
Religion:
Education:
Portrait:
Remember to write all of your entries on one page. Use the "Horizontal Ruler" (after number bullets, image bullets above) to break assignments up. Remember to put your dairy or other writings on a unique page, for example Ashely C's RON. If all use the "Link" (see above) so a student will direct themselves to an already made page. Major issues can be a result of this action.
Guiding Questions:
1. What is a genocide and a holocaust?
2. Was "The Rape of Nanking" a genocide and/or holocaust?
3. Why do we study such horrific events?
Genocide:the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group.
Holocaust: 1: a sacrifice consumed by fire 2: a thorough destruction involving extensive loss of life especially through fire <a nuclear holocaust> 3 a) often capitalized: the mass slaughter of European civilians and especially Jews by the Nazis during World War II —usually used with theb: a mass slaughter of people; The Eight Stages of Genocide
Why did Iris Chang write this book?
To tell the story of the Rape of Nanking (4)
To not only explain the evil of the event but to understand it so that lessons may be learned and warning signs heeded in the future (5)
Iris Chang's grandparents and parents experienced it. (7-8)
No other author had really analyzed the event and exposed it to the world. (11)
The silent victims needed a voice to tell their story. (11)
To correct Chinese silence and Japanese revisionist history. (12-13)
To describe two atrocities: The Rape of Nanking itself and the cover-up by Japanese, Chinese and Americans (14)
To share three different perspectives of the incident: Japanese, Chinese and American/European
"To forget a holocaust is to kill twice." By Elie Wiesel (16)
Diary # I: Calm Before the Storm
Due: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 Task: Write a letter, journal entry, or other form express your character point of view, as the Japanese have officially just claimed war on China. Length: minimum 300 words
use the first-person narrative voice ("I").
write as if you were writing in 1937. Show images of the life of this time in China or Japan, as experienced by a person that you have been assigned. Give us glimpses of your character's environment and thoughts. Have them talk about, think about, or see people from other walks of life. Make it realistic. Give your character voice and personality.
Tell a story of what happened in a single day in that character's life. Again, include "news from the bigger world" and your character's realistic reactions to this.
Try to show, in your story, how your character's behavior reflects the growing crisis of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Feel free to include pictures in your diary. (Give credit to the pictures by linking to your online source at the bottom of your page.)
NOTE: You will continue developing your character by writing further diaries, letter, etc. during the main events of the Rape of Nanking--so try to make a character you're interested in. ALSO, read other students' diaries and start getting to know their characters, because you will start including their characters in your own diaries by having encounters with them, this will soon be a requirement.
Diary # 2: A Knock at the Gate
Due: Thursday, November 18, 2010 Length: minimum 500 words
Task: Write a letter, journal entry, or other form and express your characters point of view, as the Japanese military have started their invasion on Nanking. The requirements listed above need to be followed once again. Remember to make sure that your story makes sense as I will grade these assignments as tough as others you have had in the past. You must include at least one other character in your writing and link to the character on your entry.
Diary # 3: The Gates Come Tumbling Down
Due: Monday, November 22, 2010 Length: minimum 300 words
Task: Write a letter, journal entry, or other form and express your characters point of view, as the Japanese military start to occupy the city and create a feeling of unease and hopelessness to all of the cities citizens. This is where the horror of the Rape of Nanking takes place so make sure and write a story that is full of suspense. Refer to the listed above and follow those guide lines. Remember to make sure that your story makes sense as I will grade these assignments as tough as others you have had in the past. You must include at least one other character in your writing and link to the character on your entry.
Diary # 4: Through the Gates into Hell
Due: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Length: minimum 300 words
Task: Write a letter, journal entry, or other form and express your characters point of view, as the horrors of the Rape of Nanking unfold. Remember that using pictures and movies are encouraged to help you with this project. Also remember to put all of your entries on one page. Look at Catherine Moon's page for an example. Refer to the listed above and follow those guide lines. Remember to make sure that your story makes sense as I will grade these assignments as tough as others you have had in the past. So far I am quite impressed with your ideas and use of the book! Keep her going!
Diary # 5: A Survivor
Due: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Length: minimum 300 words
Task: Write a letter, journal entry, or other form express your characters point of view, as a survivor of "The Rape of Nanking." It is now a number of years later after Japan has surrender to the United States in WWII. This should be an overall reflection on the event. Tie all of your loose ends together and create a conclusion. Remember that using pictures and movies are encouraged to help you with this project. Also remember to put all of your entries on one page. Refer to the listed above and follow those guide lines.
Rape of Nanking Ant Farm: The Survivalists
Nanking Massacre Article
You have been assigned a role and you will explore the events of the Rape of Nanking through the eyes of that individual. The purpose of this assignment is to get a clear and deep understanding of Japanese conduct during World War II. You will be able to collaborate with others in the class to make a series of journals, letters, and other forms of media. Please keep your ideas historically accurate and think critically throughout this project.
Rules of the Ant Farm (READ THIS):
Grading Criteria:
Task: Using your background knowledge from Reading 1 (Chapters 1-2 of Rape of Nanking) create your character.
Process: Copy the prompts below. Paste them to your own diary's wiki page. Then, use the prompts to help yourself imagine and create a character that is a) historically accurate, and b) interesting to you and us. Brainstorm (meaning write) your ideas for these prompts on your own wiki diary page.
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Occupation:
Social Class:
Financial situation:
Appearance:
Location (map): Nanking
Habitual locations:
Daily routine:
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits:
Past/individual-family history:
Family:
Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them):
Religion:
Education:
Portrait:
Remember to write all of your entries on one page. Use the "Horizontal Ruler" (after number bullets, image bullets above) to break assignments up. Remember to put your dairy or other writings on a unique page, for example Ashely C's RON. If all use the "Link" (see above) so a student will direct themselves to an already made page. Major issues can be a result of this action.
Guiding Questions:
1. What is a genocide and a holocaust?2. Was "The Rape of Nanking" a genocide and/or holocaust?
3. Why do we study such horrific events?
Definitions (From Merriam-Webster On-line)
Genocide: the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group.Holocaust:
1: a sacrifice consumed by fire
2: a thorough destruction involving extensive loss of life especially through fire <a nuclear holocaust>
3 a) often capitalized : the mass slaughter of European civilians and especially Jews by the Nazis during World War II —usually used with the b: a mass slaughter of people;
The Eight Stages of Genocide
Why did Iris Chang write this book?
Diary # I: Calm Before the Storm
Due: Tuesday, November 16, 2010Task: Write a letter, journal entry, or other form express your character point of view, as the Japanese have officially just claimed war on China.
Length: minimum 300 words
- use the first-person narrative voice ("I").
- write as if you were writing in 1937. Show images of the life of this time in China or Japan, as experienced by a person that you have been assigned. Give us glimpses of your character's environment and thoughts. Have them talk about, think about, or see people from other walks of life. Make it realistic. Give your character voice and personality.
- Tell a story of what happened in a single day in that character's life. Again, include "news from the bigger world" and your character's realistic reactions to this.
- Try to show, in your story, how your character's behavior reflects the growing crisis of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
- Feel free to include pictures in your diary. (Give credit to the pictures by linking to your online source at the bottom of your page.)
NOTE: You will continue developing your character by writing further diaries, letter, etc. during the main events of the Rape of Nanking--so try to make a character you're interested in. ALSO, read other students' diaries and start getting to know their characters, because you will start including their characters in your own diaries by having encounters with them, this will soon be a requirement.Diary # 2: A Knock at the Gate
Due: Thursday, November 18, 2010Length: minimum 500 words
Task: Write a letter, journal entry, or other form and express your characters point of view, as the Japanese military have started their invasion on Nanking. The requirements listed above need to be followed once again. Remember to make sure that your story makes sense as I will grade these assignments as tough as others you have had in the past. You must include at least one other character in your writing and link to the character on your entry.
Diary # 3: The Gates Come Tumbling Down
Due: Monday, November 22, 2010Length: minimum 300 words
Task: Write a letter, journal entry, or other form and express your characters point of view, as the Japanese military start to occupy the city and create a feeling of unease and hopelessness to all of the cities citizens. This is where the horror of the Rape of Nanking takes place so make sure and write a story that is full of suspense. Refer to the listed above and follow those guide lines. Remember to make sure that your story makes sense as I will grade these assignments as tough as others you have had in the past. You must include at least one other character in your writing and link to the character on your entry.
Diary # 4: Through the Gates into Hell
Due: Wednesday, December 1, 2010Length: minimum 300 words
Task: Write a letter, journal entry, or other form and express your characters point of view, as the horrors of the Rape of Nanking unfold. Remember that using pictures and movies are encouraged to help you with this project. Also remember to put all of your entries on one page. Look at Catherine Moon's page for an example. Refer to the listed above and follow those guide lines. Remember to make sure that your story makes sense as I will grade these assignments as tough as others you have had in the past. So far I am quite impressed with your ideas and use of the book! Keep her going!
Diary # 5: A Survivor
Due: Wednesday, December 1, 2010Length: minimum 300 words
Task: Write a letter, journal entry, or other form express your characters point of view, as a survivor of "The Rape of Nanking." It is now a number of years later after Japan has surrender to the United States in WWII. This should be an overall reflection on the event. Tie all of your loose ends together and create a conclusion. Remember that using pictures and movies are encouraged to help you with this project. Also remember to put all of your entries on one page. Refer to the listed above and follow those guide lines.
Nanking Massacre 70 Years Later Video